It has always been about the music – the delight, the exposure to variety, and the opportunity for expression

Monthly Archives: July 2015

There were High 5’s and hugs and margaritas at the Grand Salon Wrap Party to celebrate the great results of this year’s event held on May 31. Thanks to all who played a part in making it special, and to Sandra Clay for arranging our afternoon at Portuguese Bend Beach Club.

The Silent Auction held at the Grand Salon on May 31 offered an extensive choice of tours, parties and get-togethers. Lucky winners enjoyed their first outings this week with tours of two historic venues—the Hollywood Bowl and Rancho Los Alamitos.

Hollywood Bowl Backstage Tour

The Hollywood Bowl is the largest natural outdoor amphitheater in the US, and is a 59 acre county park and picnic ground. The LA Phil inaugurated the first official Hollywood Bowl season, “Symphonies Under the Stars,” on July 11, 1922, and it’s still going strong with 75 summer concerts, including 14 with fireworks. Hostesses Jane Beseda, Carol Hart, and Marilyn Hoffman treated a group of 10 to a backstage and museum tour, and in true Hollywood Bowl tradition, a picnic at the Volunteer Cottage. The group also made their singing debut at the Bowl with “This Land is Your Land” by Woody Guthrie, led by our own Carol Hart, who performed at the Bowl when she sang with the LA Master Chorale.

July 11, 1922 – Opening Day for the inaugural season of “Symphonies Under the Stars.”

The current shell of 2003 brought much needed acoustical improvements, replacing the 1929 shell that had stood for 74 years.

Same group, ready to sing “This Land is Your Land,” with the addition of Melanie Sanguinet, Manager Volunteer Activities, far left. Behind the camera: Joseph Feneck, Volunteer & Special Projects Coordinator, also made a video of this awesome performance.

☆☆☆☆☆

Rancho Los Alamitos Tour

Preston

Rancho Los Alamitos in Long Beach is on the National Register of Historic Places for its significance as a sacred village of the Tongva people, and its evolution through the Spanish and Mexican periods, the ranching and farming era, and 20th century development. It is a rare remnant of the original 300,000 acre Spanish land grant given to Manuel Nieto in 1790. The Rancho includes traces of the ancestral village, an adobe-core ranch house ca. 1800, four acres of historic gardens, and a meticulously restored working ranch barnyard. The barnyard is home to chickens, bunnies, and Preston the Shire horse, whose shoes are big enough to put your head through! Thanks to hostesses Marian Duntley, Karen Gottlieb, and Cheryl Graue for this great tour.

We held the first of our Gratitude dinners to thank the Grand Salon restaurants for helping us out. There were 45 members and guests at Lou’s on the Hill, where we enjoyed an evening filled with friends, food and Lou’s fabulous singing.

Please mark your calendars for our next PCLAP Gratitude Dinner:

Monday, July 27, 2015

Giorgio’s

COST: $40 ALL INCLUSIVE (TAX AND TIP)

EXCLUDING ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

Please RSVP with your reservation and CHOICE OF ENTREE to nsiskowic@gmail.com no later than July 21st